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Soy and breast cancer.


Breast density, as measured by mammography mammography, diagnostic procedure that uses low-dose X rays to detect abnormalities in the breasts. The early diagnosis of breast cancer made possible by the routine use of mammography for screening women increases a woman's treatment alternatives and improves her , is a predictor of breast cancer risk. Women with high breast densities are reported to be four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer. Many factors influence

breast density, including genetics genetics, scientific study of the mechanism of heredity. While Gregor Mendel first presented his findings on the statistical laws governing the transmission of certain traits from generation to generation in 1856, it was not until the discovery and detailed study of , medications, and diet. Some studies have found that soy intake was associated with greater breast density, but results have been inconclusive INCONCLUSIVE. What does not put an end to a thing. Inconclusive presumptions are those which may be overcome by opposing proof; for example, the law presumes that he who possesses personal property is the owner of it, but evidence is allowed to contradict this presumption, and show who is . A recent large study had 109 women eat two servings of soy, providing 50 milligrams of isoflavones isoflavones (īˑ·sō·flāˈ·vōnz),
n.pl phytoestrogenic compounds found in various plants, including red clover and soy.
, every day for two years. These women were compared to a control group of 111 women who were instructed not to increase their soy intake, which was very low. After two years, there was no significant difference in breast density between the two groups. This suggests that soy consumption in adulthood does not increase breast density. This study did find that Caucasian women who reported eating more soy during their lives had a higher breast density, while women who ate soy at least weekly after they were 20 years old (but ate little soy before that) had a greater reduction in breast density during this study. Further study is needed to evaluate the role of soy intake during childhood and adolescence adolescence, time of life from onset of puberty to full adulthood. The exact period of adolescence, which varies from person to person, falls approximately between the ages 12 and 20 and encompasses both physiological and psychological changes.  on breast cancer risk. The results of this study, however, suggest that moderate soy consumption by adult women has little effect on breast density and does not appear to increase risk of breast cancer.

Maskarinec G, Takata Y, Franke AA, et al. 2004. A 2-year soy intervention in premenopausal pre·me·no·paus·al
adj.
Of or relating to the years or the stage of life immediately before the onset of menopause.


premenopausal adjective
 women does not change mammographic densities. J Nutr 134:3089-94.

Neuhouser ML. 2004. Soy mammographic breast density: plausible hypothesis but limited evidence in humans. J Nutr 134:2911-12.
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Title Annotation:Scientific Update: A Review of Recent Scientific Papers Related to Vegetarianism
Author:Mangels, Reed
Publication:Vegetarian Journal
Article Type:Brief Article
Date:Mar 1, 2005
Words:275
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